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What Makes a Cake a Bento Cake?
In part, you can recognize a bento cake by its size: They are typically around 4 inches in diameter, though occasionally they can be as large as 6 or even 8 inches. They’re most often round — but we’ve seen some very sweet heart-shaped bentos.
Even more notably than their small size, however, you can recognize these cute cakes by their signature presentation. Minimal but adorable, bento cakes are packaged in clamshell takeout containers, surrounded by parchment paper. Ideally, they’re eaten right out of the container, adding a fun, relaxed vibe to the celebration.
A bento cake is usually composed of layers of cake sandwiched together with icing — think whipped cream, cream cheese or buttercream. Buttercream is a particular favorite, as it allows the most versatility for piping and designs. How many layers? That’s up to you! The only limit is the container itself: you want it to close without squishing the cake.
Giftable Goodness
Bento cakes are a great way to celebrate almost any occasion, from a new job to a major milestone, like a big anniversary. Making one for a birthday? Consider pairing it with some Betty Crocker baking essentials for the ultimate cake-lover’s gift.
Because of their individual size and low-key presentation, there’s no need to wait for a special occasion to bake up a bento cake. Bake a bento in place of a thank you note. Bake one just to say, “I love you.” Or bake a bento for someone special simply just because. You can customize your message and decoration to make it fit any theme or occasion. Bento cakes are a gift you don’t have to wait to give!
Building Your Own Bento Cake
Making your own bento cake is easy and, most of all, fun. It all starts with your favorite cake as the base. We love Betty Crocker™ Super Moist™ Delights Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix as a super rich, chocolatey option, but our Super Moist™ Delights Rainbow Chip Cake Mix makes a colorful and festive presentation as well.
Baking your bento cake in a 13 x 18-inch half-sheet pan will give you plenty of surface area to cut out your mini cake layers. You can use a 4-inch round cake ring or biscuit cutter to cut the layers — or really any size of your choosing. Bonus: Leftover cake scraps will make an amazing trifle or even cake pops. Two desserts in one? How great is that?!
Remember, make sure to plan the number of layers according to the size of your takeout container! Make sure your cakes don’t get too tall or your finished design will get crushed when you close your container.
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Frosting Your Bento Cake
When you’re ready to start icing and decorating, beginning with a “crumb coat” is the key to a smooth frosted finish. A crumb coat is a super light layer of frosting that goes on first — then the cake is tucked in the refrigerator until the crumb coat is firm. Once that initial frosting firms up a bit, the crumbs are locked in place so a thicker layer of frosting can be applied more easily and neatly on top of it, leaving you with a nice smooth surface for piping.
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